Fight Doctor

Back in Delhi, more trouble waited for him. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS, technically headed by the health minister, was the centre of the anti-quota stir. Ramadoss was at the time away in Geneva attending the world health conference. The agitation came to an end just a day after he returned. But the trouble clearly hadn8217;t.

Ramadoss sought an explanation from the AIIMS authorities on their support to the students. Officials and administrators were changed and director Dr P. Venugopal publicly accused the minister of interfering. The row continues even as a panel has been instituted to look into the issue.

FROM a young, restless medico to a meddling minister, Ramadoss8217;s image has travelled far. When appointed, he was the youngest in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet. 8216;8216;Young, dynamic Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, a pleasant and forward looking medico from Tamil Nadu, took over as Cabinet Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in the United Progressive Alliance UPA Government,8217;8217; reads the official website of Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, a body under the ministry.

Born on October 9, 1968, Ramadoss, an MBBS, also went in for a macro-economic course from the London School of Economics. Dressed nattily in expensive suits, he talked technology and stem cells and promised new life to the country8217;s ailing healthcare sector.

He also had experience in other sectors8212;social welfare, sports and environment. In Tamil Nadu, he had headed an NGO for environment protection and had also served as president of the Tamil Nadu Amateur Athletic Association, Cuddalore.

Though he had not contested elections till then, old timers in the Health Ministry say he needed no introduction in Nirman Bhavan. Ramadoss was familiar to them from the time he came visiting his predecessors, PMK health ministers, N Shanmugam and Dalit Ezhilmalai.

In the first few months of his ministership, Ramadoss made news with his surprise visits to hospitals in Delhi and other cities. His strong anti-smoking views and smoking bans made him many enemies. But the health ministry bagged an award from the American Cancer society this year for implementing anti-tobacco laws.

Then came the first public tussle. The Medical Council of India that comes under the Health Ministry, accused him of undue interference and of undermining their autonomy. The debate continued in public glare and Ramadoss failed to introduce an amendment in the Act governing MCI. The bill is still pending and according to sources, Ramadoss has no support from the cabinet over the issue.

At AIIMS, his stays in the institute8217;s guest house and his night visits to the hospital, apparently started the rift with Venugopal. Sources say, the director saw these as instances of interference.

And that was only the beginning. The last round of the fight is yet to be played.